Fresh Brewed Guest Designer

Monday, March 24, 2014

Did you notice anything new when you got here today? I spent the past few days revamping my blog for a fresh look. My friend, Deborah, helped me get going, and soon, she's going to help me add a few other new features, too! I can hardly wait!


But, in the meantime, I've been anxiously waiting for today to get here. I'm the Guest Designer over at the Fresh Brewed Designs Challenge Blog today! I found Fresh Brewed a couple of months ago, and I'm so glad I did. Heather, the owner of Fresh Brewed Designs, has both rubber and digital stamps in over 30 categories, as well as digi paper, in a wide variety of cute designs. When she asked me to be a Guest Designer for this month, I had my pick of three images to use for my GD cards, and I have to tell you, it was tough to narrow my choices down! You'll see what I mean! ;)




Heather has a Brew of the Month Challenge every month where you can choose your challenge of either a sketch, a photo inspiration, or both. (There's still time to enter this month--you have until March 31). For my first card, I used the sketch. And, as I seem to do with every sketch I use lately, I turned it on it's side.
For my first card, I used this sweet Watermelon Girl digi image. Is she not the cutest thing? :) I colored her with Copic markers and used a piece of terry cloth and Colorless Blender on the watermelon to give it a little texture. I also added Black Liquid Pearl to the seeds, and Glossy Accents to her little ponytail holders and her shoes. I got out my Gelatos again, and made the watermelon paper. The "seeds" were added with Inktense pencils. After cutting it with a Labels 25 die, I sponged Black Soot ink around the edges. I used the Opulent Ovals die set to cut a black frame for the colored image, and I backed it with the same green paper that I used as the bg. The "Sweet" flag was cut with a Verve flag die, then I spritzed it with Fresh Lime and Vibrant Turquiose Dylusions Ink Spray, and sponged Mowed Lawn Distress Ink around the edges before attaching it to the framed image with a floral brad. The textured strip across the middle was cut with a Simon Says Circle Border die, and I used strips of black cs to border the die cut.

I used the scraps from the watermelon paper on the front to give some color and interest to the inside.

For my second card, I used the photo inspiration from this month's FBD challenge, and did a little computer manipulation to the digital images first...
The minute I saw Bob and Betty in Heather's store, I knew I just had to have them! They are actually completely separate digital images, but by making the "sky" transparent, I was able to merge the images together. Heather did such a great job drawing these images, they went together perfectly! I didn't even have to do any resizing! I paper pieced Bob and Betty's swimsuits, then colored the image with Copics. I have to tell you, this was a blast to color. Can you see their sunburns, and Bob's farmer's tan? And, don't you just LOVE the expression on Bob's face? He's definitely "Living in the Moment," isn't he? ;) I used a cloud stencil for the sky, sponged in the sun, added in some white highlights to the water, and drew in the birds in the background. I used a Wink of Stella pen to add shimmer to the sun, and a little "sweat" to Bob and Betty. The rims of their glasses were colored with gold and silver Spica pens, and I used Glossy Accents on their lens, and also on the chocolate on the ice cream cone. 

For the layout of this card, I used Sugar Pea Design's very first Sugar Sketch. I used a weathered wood dp, distressed the edges with a Distrezz-it-All, cut two flags out of the same dp I used for the paper pieced swimsuits, stamped a tag with a Live in the Moment sentiment, which I traced with a gold Spica pen for sparkle, added a little twine, die cut the image and another circle for a mat and put it all together. And, I have the perfect couple to send this card too! ;~D

I kept the inside a little plain, with just a strip of the weathered wood dp, some sponging around the rectangular panel, and a couple of gold lines drawn with a Spica pen.

Thank you, Heather, for featuring me this month on your blog! It's been a real treat for me! 

Be sure to check out Heather's Freshly Brewed Challenge Blog for her monthly Choose Your Challenge and Blog Candy Giveaway, as well as her Fresh Brewed Designs Shop for her darling images!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a SWEET day!

I'm entering these cards in the following challenges:
Watermelon Girl:

Bob and Betty:

~Hugs,
 
Supplies: 
Watermelon Girl:

Bob & Betty:

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15 comments :

Deborah Anton said...

I love both cards!! Each one different but al the elements and textures are perfect. You used some awesome products for each card!

Edwina said...

Fantastic cards! I love them. You did such a great job. I especially like the Watermelon girl card. It is just so cute. Thanks for sharing. Edwina Brown

Katie Sims said...

Both of these are darling, Cheryl! Your coloring is amazing. Congratulations on your Guest Designer assigment this month....they are very lucky to have you! :)

Wendy Ramlakhan said...

Both cards are so adorable!! LOVE the papers you used on the couple…those paper pieced bathing suits are too cute!! :) So glad you joined us at SPD…it was a treat to see your card!!

Sheryl said...

Hi Cheryl! It's been such a wonderful pleasure to browse thru your lovely blog! I am your newest follower! I love your adorable, "Watermelon Girl"! The background designer paper you created is perfectly beautiful!
Then I Love Bob and Betty together!
The paper pieced bathing suits are adorable and the background paper is perfect with the whitewashed fence.
I hope that you are enjoying a wonderful week.
Hugs, Sheryl

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Lovely cards, adorable image on the first card and I love your use of the Glossy accents . Great colours in the backdrop too. Love the wood type effect in the background on the second card. Thanks so much for joining in the Simon Says stamp Monday Challenge. Tracy x

Conniecrafter said...

Oh Wow Cheryl you have out done yourself, very cool watermelon background to go with that cute digi image, fun summer time card. Your second is so cool, you put these two together like they were meant to be together, your coloring of them is just perfect and love what you did with the insides too, Fantastic, fun cards!

Victoria H. said...

Your site looks awesome and your cards are so cute!

Leslie Miller said...

Love the new look a LOT! Super cute cards, too. Congrats on your guest spot!

Marisa said...

Adore that second card - the wood panel BG is perfect for a beach theme. Great job on the first one too. Thanks for joining us for this month's Diva Dare.

Lisa (aka CropDropNRoll) said...

Cheryl - The colors for Watermelon Girl are great! You have me ready for summertime! LOL. Great coloring and dimensions! Thanks for dropping by our neighborhood at 613 Avenue Create.

Heather D. ~ Fresh Brewed Designs said...

I tried to get online and leave a comment while we were away, but my phone will not allow me to do so. :( I am in love with both of these cards! Your Watermelon Girl card is sweeter than sweet! I am in awe of your spectacular coloring and shading on the image. The background paper is perfect!!!
Your card featuring Betty and Bob makes me giggle. I love the scene you created with the two of them. The addition of the birds was such a great idea! And you have them sweating! HA!!! how awesome is that?!? The paper piecing is AWESOME! LOVE the weathered wood bg paper.
It was an honor and pleasure to feature you as our guest designer for March.
Thank you so much for creating these amazing cards and for this wonderful write up!
Big smiles,
Heather D.
www.freshbreweddesigns.com

Desire Fourie said...

Stunning creations smacking of summer.
Hugs
Desíre
{Doing Life – my personal blog}

~amy~ said...

Super fun cards!
Thanks for joining us at Curtain Call!

Lori Barnett said...

Girl...these creations are drool worthy!!!! Seriously...they ROCK! We are so luck to have you at Fresh Brewed Designs!